Why Neurovisual Deficits Can Go Undetected After a TBI — and What This Means for an Injury Claim
Key Takeaways
- A traumatic brain injury may affect how the brain processes vision. These neurovisual deficits might not show up on an eye exam or MRI, making it hard to prove functional impairment in personal injury cases.
- Specialized neurovisual testing can be used to identify neurovisual deficits and become part of the medical documentation that supports a legal claim.
- When used with other medical records and evidence, neurovisual testing can help strengthen a neurovisual deficit case during settlement negotiations and litigation.
Not everything shows up on an MRI after a traumatic brain injury. For example, neurovisual deficits, which affect how the eyes and brain work together, are often overlooked.
These conditions can influence everything from recovery to day-to-day functioning. Our personal injury clients often tell us they can’t read for too long, drive for too long, or look at a screen without getting tired.
Legal claims involving neurovisual deficits are still assessed based on standard medical evaluations that underestimate the full extent of someone’s functional impairment. This can result in victims not receiving fair and full compensation under California law.
What Standard Testing Misses in Neurovisual Deficit Legal Cases
It’s not unusual for people with a TBI to experience these symptoms:
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Difficulty focusing
So they book an eye exam to see what the problem is, but everything appears completely normal.
With neurovisual deficits, the issue is usually not the eyes. It’s the brain’s ability to process visual information, which can be missed during imaging and other routine testing.
In our opinion, that creates a massive gap in medical care and legal evaluation.
Neurovisual Deficits, Explained
Neurovisual deficits are vision-related problems commonly associated with neurological disorders, such as TBIs and strokes. A person’s visual system is typically still intact, but the neurological pathways that interpret what they see are disrupted in some way.
This can mean that an eye exam comes back as normal, even when vision problems are present.
Neurovisual deficits affect different aspects of visual processing in the brain, such as:
- Seeing shapes, colors, and motion
- Identifying faces and objects
- Tracking visual information across space — for example, watching a car moving on Interstate 80
- Integrating visuals with memory or attention — for example, recognizing a face as someone you know
If these processes are disrupted, a person may struggle with driving, reading, and other tasks.
When Neurovisual Testing May Be Required
As well as standard examinations after a TBI, specific neurovisual tests are often needed to identify how the brain processes visual information.
This specialized testing can:
- Pinpoint subtle dysfunctions in visual processing, eye tracking, and coordination that may go unnoticed in a normal eye exam
- Provide data on reaction time, processing speed, visual attention, and other factors
- Assess visual efficiency over time — for example, how symptoms may get worse with phone screen use
Neurovisual testing is usually carried out by specialist providers, such as neuro-optometrists and visual rehabilitation therapists. But if standard testing doesn’t reveal anything abnormal, many patients don’t get referred for further evaluation.
Why All This Matters in a California Personal Injury Case
In a personal injury case, neurovisual testing can be an important part of the medical documentation that verifies functional limitations after a TBI. It shows how neurovisual deficits may be contributing to someone’s symptoms and the effect those symptoms have on their life.
That’s not to say the results of a neurovisual test are the only evidence used for legal evaluation. Other medical records, witness statements, photos, and videos may be used to document what happened. Together, they can help build a stronger case for settlement negotiations and litigation.
What Happens in a Neurovisual Deficit Case
Here’s what may happen in a personal injury case involving neurovisual deficits and how neurovisual testing fits into the process:
Accident Occurs
A person is involved in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, such as an:
- Automobile accident
- Slip and fall
- Ladder injury
- Accident involving a defective product
Initial Medical Evaluation
The person seeks medical care, which may include a CT scan or standard neurological exam if they experience a head injury. If symptoms continue, they may have an MRI.
Eye Exam
The person may be referred to an optometrist if they experience headaches, blurred vision, and other symptoms.
Important: None of these tests may detect neurovisual deficits.
Neurovisual Testing
If visual-related symptoms persist, neurovisual testing can reveal a visual processing problem in the brain rather than an eye disorder.
Building a Case
Medical records and other documentation are used to evaluate a neurovisual deficit case. A personal injury attorney can review all available evidence to determine how an injury is affecting someone’s daily functioning and ability to work.
Insurance Review/Litigation
The at-fault party’s insurance company will evaluate evidence to assess liability, damages, and the value of a potential settlement. If a case isn’t resolved, it may proceed to the San Francisco Superior Court.
How Stoll & Haynes Can Help
Because neurovisual deficits are so often overlooked, documenting them properly can be tricky after a TBI. We understand the importance of obtaining comprehensive medical documentation when assessing the full extent of someone’s functional impairment.
As well as negotiating with insurers, Stoll & Haynes has real experience in serious injury litigation, successfully handling cases through trial over the last three decades. For example, we secured a $9.6 million victory after two-and-a-half years of litigation on behalf of a victim who suffered brain damage resulting in quadriplegia.
Note: Past case results do not guarantee future outcomes. Your case may be different.
Neurovisual Deficit Attorney FAQs
Neurovisual deficits are vision-related problems caused by how the brain processes visual information.
The right lawyer can help collect the right evidence and present it clearly during insurer negotiations and court proceedings.
Not always. Routine eye exams may not identify how the brain processes vision.
Read more personal injury FAQs.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need advice about your specific situation, please contact Stoll & Haynes directly.